The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
ZIFA are set to hold elections within two months to replace members of the Bulawayo executive committee who resigned in protest over the re-instatement of chairman, Francis Ntuta.
Zifa communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela said the association accepted the resignations but they will issue further statements regarding the next steps they will take.
“The Association has accepted the resignations. We will issue a position on the way forward,” he said.
However, according to the Zifa constitution, if more than 50 percent of positions become vacant in an executive, elections are held within two months with the new office bearers serving out the rest of the term.
Section 10 of article 32 of the Zifa constitution reads: “If more than 50 percent of the positions should become vacant, the General Secretary shall convene an Extraordinary Congress within two months in order to elect a replacement for the remaining term of mandate under the supervision of the Electoral Committee according to the Zifa Electoral Code.”
Four members of the Bulawayo provincial executive, vice-chairman, Allen Mpofu, Madza Takawira, who was in charge of development portfolio, Charles Ndlovu, board member finance and Otrick Siziba another board member. Only John Mutero decided to remain in his post meaning more than 50 percent of the board have resigned.
Ntuta was suspended over a year ago by fellow board members after he was accused of unilaterally paying himself a sum of $1 020 without approval of the board, which he claimed was money owed to him by the province.
Ntuta was quoted saying his suspension had more to do with personality clashes than anything insisting he was owed money and the board knew he had to recover his dues. In their letter to Mpofu, dated 11 June, Zifa ordered the Bulawayo executive to “engage independent auditors to examine their books for the period of the alleged offence.”
